Sunday, August 19, 2012

“The events in Assam where violence is undermining the security of our brethren and the religious divide is sought to be politically exploited should awaken us to the danger to the unity of India,” warned Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today.

Greeting Muslims on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, Dr. JP in a media statement appealed to people to utilize the festive season to introspect and deepen mutual ties and respect so that children of all faiths live together, grow together and seek happiness together.

Dr. JP pointed out that India is the most eclectic of all lands in that every religious faith and philosophy has found hospitable terrain here. All faiths and traditions ranging from Vedic religion, bhakti movement, Judaism, Buddhism and Jainism to Christianity, Islam and Sikhism have taken roots and evolved into a syncretic culture in the ancient and longest surviving Indian civilization. “This land belongs to practitioners of and believers in all faiths and philosophies.”

“The truest tribute to nationhood is recognition of our composite culture and strengthening the traditions of harmony and mutual respect.”

Underlining that people of all regions, religions and tribes have a right to live, work and prosper anywhere in India as equal citizens holding their head high, Dr. JP said “it is a disgrace to our national ethos and traditions if insecurity is promoted among Assamese in the rest of India and they are frightened into an exodus to their State.”

Dr. JP said that Muslims settled down for generations cannot now be uprooted. The Indian sub-continent should be treated as a single economic entity. Poverty anywhere in the subcontinent will lead to problems everywhere. “Barbed wires and sten guns cannot hold people back in a globalized world. We have to work together to promote prosperity in all of South Asia".